Laminated liquid-jetting head capable of recording in a plurality of colors, a method of producing the head and an apparatus having the head

Abstract

A method of producing a liquid-jetting head capable of recording in a plurality of colors comprises the steps of providing a base member having a plurality of heaters thereon, at least one plate member having at least one perforation therethrough with a predetermined shape and an orifice plate having holes therethrough, and laminating the base member, plate member and orifice plate together to provide a laminated liquid-jetting head having a plurality of liquid supply paths, each including a branched liquid path, formed by the perforation, from which liquid can be ejected through the orifices by the action of heat energy applied to the liquid in the liquid path by the heaters. Also disclosed is an image recording apparatus using the laminated liquid-jetting head.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A method of producing a liquid-jetting head capable of recording in a plurality of colors, the method comprising the steps of: providing a base member having a plurality of heaters thereon and a plurality of perforations therethrough, at least one plate member having at least one perforation therethrough surrounded on all sides by the plate member and having a predetermined shape, and an orifice plate having holes therethrough; and   laminating the base member, plate member and orifice plate together to provide a laminated liquid-jetting head having a plurality of substantially identically shaped, separate liquid supply paths, each being in communication with an associated perforation in the base member for supplying different color recording liquids to the liquid supply paths, each liquid supply path including a main liquid path and a plurality of branched liquid paths branched off from the main liquid path, the liquid supply paths, the main liquid paths and branched liquid paths being formed by the perforation through the plate member, wherein liquid can be ejected from the liquid-jetting head through the holes in the orifice plate by the action of heat energy applied to the liquid in the branched liquid paths by the heater.   
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the plate members are laminated with each other between the base member and the orifice plate to provide a plurality of similarly oriented liquid supply paths disposed at different levels in the laminated head. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plate member is laminated between the base memeber and the orifice plate to provide the plurality of liquid supply paths as mirror-images disposed at the same level in the laminated head. 
     
     
       4. A liquid-jetting recording head capable of recording in a plurality of colors, the head comprising a base member having a plurality of heaters thereon and a plurality of perforations therethrough, at least one plate member having at least one perforation therethrough surrounded on all sides by said plate member, and an orifice plate having holes therethrough, wherein: said base member, said plate member and said orifice plate are laminated together to provide a laminated liquid-jetting recording head having a plurality of substantially identically shaped, separate liquid supply paths, each being in communication with an associated perforation in said base member for supplying different color recording liquids to said liquid supply paths;   each said liquid supply path includes a main liquid path and a plurality of said branched liquid paths branched off from said main liquid path, said liquid supply paths, said main liquid paths and said branched liquid paths being formed by said perforation through said plate member; and   liquid can be ejected from the liquid-jetting head through said holes in said orifice plate by the action of heat energy applied to the liquid in the branched paths by said heater.   
     
     
       5. A liquid-jetting recording head according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of said plate members are laminated with each other between said base member and said orifice plate to provide a plurality of similarly oriented liquid supply paths disposed at different levels in the laminated head. 
     
     
       6. A liquid-jetting recording head according to claim 4, wherein said plate member is laminated between said base member and said orifice plate to provide said plurality of said liquid supply paths as mirror-images disposed at the same level in the laminated head. 
     
     
       7. A liquid-jetting recording head according to claim 4, wherein each said main liquid path comprises an elongated space and said branch paths are spaced along said elongated space and extended laterally therefrom. 
     
     
       8. A liquid-jetting recording head according to claim 7, having plural sets of orifices arranged in rows, wherein every other orifice is in said same set and adjacent said orifices are arranged for ejecting liquid from a different branch path. 
     
     
       9. A liquid-jetting recording head according to claim 4, wherein each said branch path conveys liquid to a single said orifice. 
     
     
       10. A liquid-jetting recording head according to claim 4, wherein one said heater is provided for each said orifice. 
     
     
       11. A liquid-jetting recording head according to claim 4, wherein each said branch path includes one said heater for a plurality of said orifices. 
     
     
       12. A liquid-jetting recording head according to claim 4, wherein said plate member is a photosensitive resin. 
     
     
       13. A multi-color image recording apparatus comprising a liquid-jetting recording head, means for supplying different color recording liquid to said liquid-jetting head and means for controlling deposition of recording liquid by said liquid-jetting recording head on a recording medium, said recording head including a base member having a plurality of heaters thereon and a plurality of perforations therethrough, at least one plate member having at least one perforation therethrough surrounded on all sides by said plate member, and an orifice plate having holes therethrough, wherein: said base member, said plate member and said orifice plate are laminated together to provide a laminated liquid-jetting recording head having a plurality of substantially identically shaped, separate liquid supply paths, each being in communication with an associated perforation in said base member for supplying different color recording liquids to said liquid supply paths;   each said liquid supply path includes a main liquid path and a plurality of said branched liquid paths branched off from said main liquid path, said liquid supply paths, said main liquid paths and said branched liquid paths being formed by said perforation through said plate member; and   liquid can be ejected from the liquid-jetting head through said holes in said orifice plate by the action of heat energy applied to the liquid in the branched paths by said heater.